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August 2, 2024

algorithms are f*cked

In 1 year, I added 43,000+ followers on Instagram.

In the last 4 months, I added 7,000+ followers on Threads.

Prior to that, I gained 40,000+ followers on TikTok and 25,000+ followers on YouTube by uploading short motivational videos and quotes.

I had multiple posts and videos with millions of views.

But I also had months where I lose followers or get minimum engagement on my content.

Many people want to quit the creator business because they can’t get that reach anymore. They’ve been posting for years, getting thousands of followers, but then suddenly, the social media platform rarely shows their content to other people.

New creators might get one viral post, gain 1,000 followers, and then 3 months go by with no viral or well-performing posts.

Now what?

For the past couple of months, I’ve been testing different content styles and strategies to see what works.

This letter will help any creator build grit and stay consistent to achieve their creator business goals.

Feel free to apply these ideas to any social media platform.

Let’s dive in.

1. Quantity matters

I used to upload once a day when I started 4 months ago on Threads.

Then, I started uploading 2 times a day.

Now, I post 4 times a day.

The result?

I get more followers, website traffic, and newsletter subs every time I increase the number of posts (without sacrificing quality).

My advice would be to find your sweet spot where you don’t sacrifice quality but still can post quantity.

I found mine to be 4 times a day.

If I post 6 times a day the quality of my content may suffer.

2. Short posts > Long posts

The most viral pieces of content are short quotes or opinions.

For example, “You’re always 1 viral post away from changing your life” or a short listicle will perform 10x better than a longer post.

Here’s an example of a short post:

Here’s an example of a long post:

My advice would be to focus on uploading only short posts to increase the awareness of your brand (get more followers and engagement)

With time, as you gain more followers, you can start uploading long posts to build more authority and increase your brand’s trust score (build raving fans, get more leads, and make more sales)

3. Engagement matters

Especially when you are just starting out, you have to engage with others.

The more you engage with people, the more people will engage with you. The more people engage with you, the better for the algorithm.

Simple maths.

Block out 30 minutes a day for engaging with creators.

Block out 30 minutes a day for engaging with your comment section.

Check step 2 (long post example) to understand how to engage on Threads or any other platform the right way.

4. Test different content styles

I’ve had quite the success with listicles, and I try to post at least 1-2 a day.

But for other people, short and punchy one-liners do the trick, like the “You’re always 1 viral post away…” example.

For others, long threads or carousels work well.

There’s a guy who always posts personal stories, and it works for him.

Just test different content styles and find the one that really works for you.

I’ve analyzed the best content styles so you don’t have to.

Best content styles (for followers & engagement):

One-liners
Quick advice
Observations
General listicles
General threads/carousels

Best content styles (for sales & trust):

Social proof
Personal wins
How to guides
Authority listicles
Authority threads/carousels

Test.

Double down on the winners.

This is the way.

5. Never delete your posts

As I mentioned, listicles are my best-performing style.

Some go viral, while others get fewer than 20 likes.

But I never delete them because I believe that deleting posts can harm the algorithm.

Also, nobody cares whether your posts perform good or bad.

You are the only one who cares.

So, focus on adding value to people’s lives and don’t get obsessed with the likes and views.

6. Keep showing up

Some of you will see immediate results after applying today’s ideas.

But some of you won’t. And that’s fine.

Not everything will work out for you immediately.

I had a post on Instagram that got 100 likes for the first 2 weeks.

Now, 4 weeks later, it has 20,000 likes. I gained 1,400 followers from that post.

The social media game is unpredictable.

But if you keep showing up, you’ll eventually succeed.

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about me

hey, i'm jordan.

I’m a human obsessed with humans, teach & writing. as previous brand advisor I know teach others how to work smarter, profit faster, and live better by learning how to work for themselves

at 21, my life was dark - no money, tired all the time, and trapped in a job i hated. i lived with 8 people i barely knew, 2,000 miles away from where i grew up. i tried all those quick money ideas but none of them worked out for me.

then i found something that clicked: working for myself. the day i started putting my ideas out there, things began to shift. by being me and sharing what i knew, i found folks who got what i was saying. about three months later, i got my first paying client and was making what my old job paid.

i left the 9-5 world, moved back in my hometown, made good money, and set up a life where i'm in charge. i pick what i work on, when i do it, where i sit while working, and who i hang out with. no boss looking over my shoulder. that's real freedom.

now i help others who want the same thing. working for yourself isn't just about the money - it's about owning your days. this way of living changed everything for me, and i'm here to show you how it can work for you too.